GRAND RAPIDS, MI — You were flat out of luck if you thought Saturday would be the better day to fill up the tank, according to a petroleum expert.

GasBuddy.com reports gas prices hiked to about $3.79 a gallon during the weekend across the Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland region but since have settled to $3.77, according to Dearborn-based auto club AAA of Michigan. The new average is just a penny increase from last Monday, though higher from settling down a few days later.

GasBuddy.com's senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said there isn't a straight answer — or a perfect one, even — for the sudden spike.

"What we saw this weekend was kind of a surprise hike," said DeHaan after looking over wholesale prices for the weekend. "Saturday's hike was something unexpected but one of the normal price hikes ... I don't see any reason for prices to go up."

Overall, wholesale prices dropped some 15 cents through mid-March, and isn't enough to indicate an increase, DeHaan said. There might also be a temporary supply issue in West Michigan, but nothing too significant.

The rest of the state is feeling much of the same pain, with an overall average of $3.72 a gallon, according to AAA. Detroit-area stations once again are offering the cheapest gas across the state at $3.67.

While motorists had to hold on tight with prices above $4 a gallon last summer, DeHaan said you'll probably just need to keep the lap bar down this year as those same highs don't look quite as likely.

"Things do seem pretty quiet," he said. "There's nothing really to be worried about on the refining front in the months ahead."

If the cheapest gas in Grand Rapids is sought, look to Eastern Avenue SE where one station reportedly is selling gas at $3.65 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. The crowd-sourced fuel price index also is signaling a downward trend.

Across West Michigan, stations are selling gas at $3.77 to $3.79 a gallon in Holland and $3.76 and $3.79 in Muskegon.

Andrew Krietz covers breaking and general police/fire news for MLive | The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.